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PIA News Service - Thursday, August 4, 2011

Butuan City LGU supports full disclosure policy

by Robert E. RoperosBUTUAN CITY, August 4 (PIA) ¬– The city government of Butuan has complied and adhered to the full disclosure policy of the national government, said City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr.

Speaking before the jam-packed 2,000 capacity Almont Hotel’s Convention Center during his recent State of the City Address (SOCA), Amante said in line with the full disclosure policy of the national government, the city government has been posting all financial transactions on the web and other media.

“Just recently, we established the Transparency Corner of our City Hall. I invite all of you to come and examine for yourself our existing Transparency Corner,” Amante said.

Mayor Amante further said a memorandum has also been issued to effect the “Full and Proper Implementation of RA No. 9184,” directing the conduct of Public bidding in all procurement transactions of the city government.

Just as the performance of the Balangay crew is crucial to the success of the voyage, Amante said the city government has set up a Performance Management System with two strategic thrusts.

The city’s top official added in line with the system, his administration has set up the Performance-Oriented Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation System. “Yes, like the business sector, our offices have formulated key result areas, or KRAs, with clearly defined indicators and targets. Progress in each office is keenly monitored every quarter,” Amante said.

Meanwhile, Mayor said and Executive Order has been issued for the reorganization and streamlining of the current organization towards a resource-efficient bureaucracy that is responsive to the growing needs of our constituents.

“We seriously intend to have a reinvented bureaucracy by 2012. Because of this, we plan to deploy some of our job order employees to the different barangays to assist in the implementation of the different programs of the city like the Solid Waste Management, Civil Registration, Grow a Million Tree, organic farming and many more,” Amante said.

It can be recalled that on June 8, 2011, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo spearheaded the “TAPATAN” activity in one of the local convention centers here to promote the Full Disclosure Policy of the national government. (PIA-Caraga)

Reservists trained to respond to calamities, disasters

by Robert E. RoperosBUTUAN CITY, August 4 (PIA) –The reserved force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are trained to respond to calamities and disasters, and especially during war, said BGen Charito B Plaza of the AFP Reserved Force in a phone-patch interview with PIA.

According to Plaza, AFP Reserved Force said reservists belong to the ready reserves category (18-35 years old) are the first to respond by conducting rescue and relief operations in times of disasters and calamities.

Plaza also said the ready reservists are the first to respond in times of wars, disasters and calamities considering their age. “They are more fit to conduct rescue and relief operations compared to the standby reserves (aged 36-55 years old) and the retiring reserves (aged 56 above),” Plaza said.

The Mindanao’s first woman General of the AFP also said all able-bodied citizens can become members of the citizens’ armed forces.

She said elected or appointed government officials can apply as commissioner. “They will be given positions in AFP according to the position they are handling in the government service,” Plaza said.

Senators, Supreme Court Justices, Court of Appeals, Cabinet Secretaries, Governors and Mayors of the highly urbanized cities have an equivalent to a Lt. Col. position.

Mayors of the component cities as well as in the municipalities have an equivalent position of a Major. City councilors, on the other hand will have the Capt. Position, while Barangay Captains will enjoy the 1st Lieutenant position and the Barangay Kagawads – 2nd Lieutenant.

Meanwhile, Plaza said College graduates or professionals in the technical fields like physicians, lawyers, dentists, and engineers will have the position of a Captain, and the Regional Directors as Majors.

During peace-time condition, BGen Plaza said all reservists will help in community and developmental projects. “Although they will not received salary but they are entitled to a free education and training to know military concerns,” Plaza added.

Plaza further said they are also entitled to free medical services from any military hospitals in
the country.

In case of death, immediate family of the reservists will receive burial assistance. They will also enjoy the services of vigil guards and a 21 gun salute during interment.

With these developments, Plaza enjoins the public to take part and join the AFP’s reserved force. (PIA-Caraga)

DAR Legal Assistance Division spearheads BARC training

by Myra Q. Yu

SURIGAO DEL SUR, August 4 -- DAR Surigao del Sur Legal Assistance Division spearheaded the Barangay Agrarian Reform Council (BARC) Training for Bayabas and Cagwait held recently at Cagwait Beach Resort, Cagwait Surigao del Sur, in collaboration with the Local Government of Cagwait through the efforts of Mayor Bonifacio G. Ondona.

Some 50 BARC officers participated in the orientation and training. Topics discussed included the History of Agrarian Reform in the Philippines; the salient provisions of R.A. 3844, R.A. 6657, and R.A. 9700; the role/functions of the BARC and conflict management vis-à-vis the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

Legal officers of DAR-Surigao del Sur Legal Services Division served as speakers and facilitators of the event.

The law on the existence of tenancy relationship invited utmost attention being the issue commonly encountered by agrarian courts. The grounds for ejectment and how a tenant may be ejected has been the emphasis of the discussion.

Salient provisions on R.A. 6657 comprise the qualifications, grounds for exclusion or disqualification, and the rights/obligations of a farmer-beneficiary. The afternoon session was devoted on the lecture about conflict management facilitated by Roselyn Y. Rendon, the Chief of the Legal Division.

Meanwhile, the open-forum provided an opportunity for the participants to share their experiences as BARC officers and their best practices worth replicating. They were given time to ask questions and to make clarifications on matters of agrarian law. Handouts were distributed so that the BARC officers may be equipped with reading materials in the exercise of their functions.

Notably, the BARC serves as the forerunner and the partner of the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office (MARO) in agrarian law implementation.

According to DAR Legal Officer Daryl Oso, the initiative is in consonance with the mandate of the Legal Division in strengthening the capability of the BARC in the delivery of agrarian justice. The organizers are hopeful that the training will aid the participants on agrarian dispute resolution in their respective barangays. (DAR-Surigao del Sur/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

P208-M Siargao infra projects up for validation and evaluation

by Michael Conte

SIARGAO ISLANDS, Surigao del Norte, August 4 -– The Constructors Performance Evaluation System (CPES) team of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to conduct validation and evaluation of contractors’ performance on the recently implemented P208 million infrastructure projects in Siargao Island this August.

In a radiophone message, DPWH-13 Regional Director Danilo E. Versola informed District Engineer Salvador E. Montil, Jr. of the arrival of the team and ordered to extend logistics support in the conduct of the evaluation activities.

The implementation of CPES is governed by Section 12, Annex E of the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act). This law states that, all government procuring entities implementing infrastructure projects are mandated to evaluate the performance of constructors using the CPES. (DPWH 2nd Eng’g. District/PIA-Caraga)

SURIGAO DEL NORTE, August 4 (PIA) -– After the success of the first Market Day on July 22, local producers and suppliers of the different municipalities of this province will converge anew on Friday, August 5, 2011 in Surigao City.

Bacuag Mayor Sheila Mae-Orquina Cebedo, president of the League of the Mayors of the Philippines (LMP) Surigao del Norte chapter is optimistic that more suppliers will attend the activity to sell their products, as Market Day has been promoted in the media.

Mayor Cebedo said the upcoming event, which was officially supported by the members of the LMP of Surigao del Norte Chapter seeks to introduce to people the local products that Surigaonons can surely be proud of.

The said event will showcase local products in textile, agriculture, foods and other Surigaonon delicacies. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)